Machine for the production of expanded metal



MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EXPANDED METAL Filed Nov. 2, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 gmzntoz flarr yfl 109519) June 28, 1932. H. A. KESSLER MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EXPANDED METAL Filed Nov. 2, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 28, 1932- H. A KESSLER ,3

MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EXPANDED METAL Filed Nov. 2, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 15' i. {6. (A I gvvuentoz ,7Z a7'r5 A.JfeSSZ'er June 28, 1932. H. A. KESSLER MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EXPANDED METAL Filed Nov. 2, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 m w M,

Jfarzy/llfesief 351 M PM June 28 1932. H, KESSLER 1,864,598

Filed Nov. 2, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Haw-29A .Kes's'Ze r san P W PW akbocwcq June 28, 1932. H, KESSLER Y 1,864,598

MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EXPANDED METAL Filed Nov. 2, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet '6 1517755111 M55102 M pvw wl June 28, 1932. H. A. KESSLER 1,864,598

MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EXPANDED METAL Filed Nov. 2, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 a Q fi w @w\. M fi l- .3% V m. W 4M 7 I w a 5 6 5 m J llll llll.

June 28, 1932. H. A. KESSLER 1,864,598

MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EXPANDED METAL Filed NW 2 1928 ll Sheets-s 9 June 28, 1932. H A. KESSLER MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EXPANDED METAL Filed Nov. 2, 1928 11Sheets-Sheet ll Jfarzzyjl fem'ier Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STAT-E's PATENT-'15OFFICE?!I w ARRYA. xnssnnn, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Assrenoa 'ro KALMAN STEEL-COMPANY,

I 0 H Q LL NO S, A CORPORATIONV'OF DELAWARE g MACHINE FOR PRODUCTION OF EXPANDED METAL Application filed November This inventionrelates to machines for the production of expanded metal lath and is particularly directed to a machine which is capable of continuously fabricating lath from blanks of determined or undetermined length. I v The principal object is to provide amachinewhich operates with a minimum degree of lfrictional resistance to the blank and which produces a superior quality of lath quickly and economically.

A further object is to provide a machine applicable to the production of ribbed lath having elongated strands.

-While the machine preferably consists of various instrumentalities which performvarious operationsupon the, blank, it may be pointed out that the invention primarily resides in the provision of the means by which the blank is widened. Generally stated, the widening means include elements arranged along opposite faces ofthe blank in rows of diverging or fan-like formation and adapted to engage the blank and move with it a determined distance and in such movement to spread or widen theblank,

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the com.- plete machine. 3

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

.Figure 3 is a view partlyin elevation and partly in section showing the expanding rolls and rib-engaging elements.

Figure 413 a perspective ofv a pair of ribengaging elements and their connecting link.

Figure 5 is a similar perspective of the opposed rib-engaging elements and connecting link. Y V

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section along line 6-6ofFigure 3 showing the engagement of the rib-engaging elements with the driving sprockets. I

Figure 7 is a section of'the widening guides along line 7-7 of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a similar section of the widening guides taken in advance of the. preliminary flattening rolls and near theend of the widenlngoperation.

2, 1928. Serial No."816,e76.;

Figure 9 is a view partlyin elevation and i partly in section showing the preliminary finishing rolls and the rib-engaging elements.

Figure 10 is va perspective of a 'fragment of the slitted blank.

F igurell is a section through the ribbing rolls during the ribbing operation. a s

Figure 12 is a top plan View of a fragment of the blank as it appears on emergence from the rib forming rolls. I I V Figure 13 is a section through the guides between the ribbing and stretching rolls.

Figure 14 is a section through the stretching rolls during the stretching operation. igure 15 isa top plan of a fragment-of the blank as it appears on emergence fromthe stretching rolls. I

Figure 16 is a section through the widen ing meansprior tolthe widening operation andshowing more particularly the cross section of the blank atthat time; ,1 ,Figure' 17 is a section through the blank widening means after theblank. has been widened and showing more particularly the cross section of the blank as widened.

Figure 18 is a section through thepreliminary finishingrolls. I 1

Figure 19 is a top plan View of a. fragment of the blankas it appears upon emergence from the preliminary finishing-rolls.

In the manufacture offlath by thisma chine, a hot or cold blank B may be utilized, a hot blank being preferred. The manufactured lath is-T preferably ribbed and prefer ably of the diamond mesh type. and, to this end the blank illustrated (see F ig. 10) is characterized by parallel longitudinal slitted and unslitted; zones G and D respectively, in which each slitted zone C. extends between adjacent; unslitted zones Djand" comprises several longitudinal rows of slits wherein the slits of one row are in staggered or break-joint. relation to the slits ofiadjacent rows in the same zone. The blank Bmay be slitted by any suitable mechanism (not shown) and having been brought to the dc sired temperature is ready to be processed by the machine. 7 i

As shown and preferred the machine ineludes thefollowing 'instrumentalities (see Figs. 1 and 2) which operate upon the slit eral ribs 11 which operate in the channels and shape the flat non-slitted zones D of the blank into reenforcing ribs V of suitable cross section such as the inverted V cross section shown. The ribbing rolls R are also formed with upper and lower clearances 12 to permit'the expansion of, and limit it to, the marginal portions of each slitted zone C through the lateral pull exerted on the slitted zones during the ribbing operation; From the-ribbing rolls R, the ribbed blank passes through an'intermediate guide CT to thexexpanding or stretching rolls E. The guide G, as shown in Figures 1 and 13, preferably employs a series of parallel elements, each composed of an upper bar- 13 which overlies a rib v and a lower bar 14 arranged below and conforming to the under side of the rib, these elements functioning to insure the exact'registry of the blank with the ex panding rolls E. a

The expanding rolls E preferably operate to stretch the strands of the central portion of all slittedzones,. the marginal portions having been stretched during the ribbing operation (see Fig. 1 1); The complete stretching of these strands is preferably simultaneously accomplished and in a manner such that each central portion is bent into a series of parallel longitudinal convolutions, that is to say so bent'as to have a. tortuous or sinuous cross section. For this purpose each of the rolls -E' is formed with several groups of peripheral ribs 15 which delimit intermediate peripheral channels 16, the ribs of one roll extending into the channels of the other roll and the faces of the channels being spaced from the cooperating ribs to provide clearancesin which the stretching takes place. The outer, ribs of each group function to limit the stretching action to the central por tion ofeach slittedzone'and, to this end they are made of less depth than the-intervening ribs and arranged to engage theblank along the line of demarcation between the central and marginal portions of each zone, their depthbeing such that no displacement of the marginal portions is effected during the expanding operation. I As the blankemerges from the expandingrolls-F 'the emerged portions are in a condition of complete and uniform expansion and such portions are, therefore, ready to be deployed, that is to say widened and thereby returned to a flatcross section. This operation is performed by the widening and flattening means VJ.

T he widening operation is accomplished in a general way by engaging the unslitted portions of the blank, in this case'the ribs V, and directing them along diverging paths of travel so as to increase their mutual separation progressively as they move away from the expanding rolls E. .As the spacing of the rib increases, the cross sectional convolutions are gradually reduced and the blank thus madeto approach a flat cross section.

The point at which the flat cross section is ultimately reached without stretching the strands depends, of course, upon the angle of divergence and the extent to which the strands have been elongated. In any case, when such point is reached, the diverging movement of the elements is preferably arrested so as to prevent any stretching during his operation. 7

For the purpose of directing the ribs of the 'blankin the manner described, the widening and flattening means WV include a number of opposed elements 17 and 18 arranged in the path of the ribs of the blank, eachpair of elements being shaped to delimit, between them, a space of general inverted V outline into which the ribs extend (see Figures 4, 5, 7 and 8). Each pair of elements is adapted to en age a determined portion of a rib and to move with such portion during the widening operation, the movement being such that at some point after the expansion operation, the mutual lateral spacing between corresponding pairs of elements begins to increase and continues so to do until the cross sectional convolutions connecting the engaged rib portions are completely returned to a flat cross section. The increase in the spacing between the corresponding pairs of elements is accomplished by causing them to move in diverging'paths of travel. In order to make the widening operation continuous and thus progressively return successive portions of each'rib to a flat cross section, the elements 17 and 18 for each rib are respectively connected in an endless or chain-like series by links 19 extending between adjacent elements, the arrangement being such as to feed theelements to the blank at the beginning of the widening operation and remove them from the blank at the end of such operation.

The drive'of the elements may be effected in any suitable mannerbut it is preferably effected by forming the elements 17 and 18 and connecting links 19 with teeth 20 in the manner of a silent chain and providing, for driving engagement with the teeth of each chain of elements, suitably mounted sprockets 21 at the beginning and at the end of the widening area. While the widening opera tion may be started at a point removed from the expanding rolls IE, it is preferably started at the point of emergence of the blank from between the rolls E, cooperate to engage'theribs and guide them through the rolls.

-The sprockets 21 located. at the end of'the widening area are preferably mounted upon rolls 22 (see Fig. 9). These rolls preferably are arranged to perform. a preliminary finishing operation and, to this end they are formedwith flat surfaces 23-which. engage and flatten the expanded portions of the.

blank. 7

The'space relation of the elements 17 and 18 during their engagement with the ribs, is maintained by divergingly arranged channel guides 24: through which the elements pass, the opposite ends of the guides being tapered to permit a closeapproach to the expanding rolls E and the rolls 21. -The.channe1 guides 24 carry bed strips 25 against which the teeth of the elements ride, these strips ,being composed of hardened steel to resist wear. The marginal edges of the channels also carry wear resisting hardened strips 26 whichabut against the sides of the elements to hold them in alignment. The guides 24 are. adjustably connected to suitably spaced Crossbars 27 by adjusting screws 28, the cross bars being mounted uponthe side members ofthe base or table 1. In order to support the weight of the elements l'i during their return movement from the rolls 21 to the expanding rolli E, channel guides 29'are provided which are supported on the cross'bars 27,. The elements 18 are similarly provided with channel guides 30, these being supported on transverselv arran ed an 'le'bars'3l whichare mounted on th side members of the table'T. In the operation of the machine,.the blank passes into the expanding rolls E where the ribs V of the blank are engagedby the elements 1'? and 18 and the slitted port-ion suitably stretched. As the stretched portions of the blank emerge from the rolls, theelements diverge and the blank is thus made to;approach a fiat cross section whichis ultimately reached at the point "where theblank enters the preliminary finishing .rolls '22. These rolls operate to flatten the strands and then deliver the blank through the guides Gr to the final finishing rolls Ft, The guides G -are-of the same arrangement-as; the guides-G previouslydescribed The finishing rolls F operate to engage the entire blank, ribs included, and complete the flattening ofthe strands well as giving the product'a desired finish.

The drive of themachine as a whole may be accomplished in any desired manner. As

shown the drive is 'eliectedfroma power shaft 82 which is. connected throughflchains 33"to'thevarious rotating parts, suitable idling gears 3ebeing utilized to take up the slack in the chains. Y Having: fully described my invention, I claimzfl I V 1 1. In a machine forproducing expanded metal from a slitted blank the combination with means for expanding the blank by forming-its cross section progressively with displaced components, of means for continu ousiy and progressively widening the blank to a determined extent as it moves away fromthe expanding means, said widening means. including laterally. spaced rows of elements in which the elements of each row are adapted to be fed'into engagement with successive portions of a blank and to move a i determined distance with the engaged portions during which movement the relative spacing of corresponding points ineach row is rogressively increased so as to in: crease in like manner the relative spacing of the engaged portions ofthe blank and there-' by widen the blank, and means for so moving the elements.

2. In a machine for producing expanded 'metal from a slitted blank the combination of oppcsed rolls adapted to engage a blank and term its cross section progressively'with displaced components, of means for continu ously, and progressively widening the blank vto a detrmined extent as it moves away from the expanding rolls, said widening means including opposed sets of blank engaging elements, each set having a plurality of laterally spaced endless chain-like rows. of elements in which each row is adapted for endless'movement. over a fixed path,a portion ef-which extends from the expanding rolls forwardly to a determined extent and in diverging relation with. corresponding portions of the paths of other rows'in the same set, the elements of one set. being in opposed relation with thecorresponding elements of the opposed set during the diverga f ingmovement, the rows. of elements in one set having driving engagement with one of the expanding rolls, the opposed set of elements havingdriving engagement with the opposed .expandingroll, opposed series of spockets 'arranged at the end of the diverging areain driving engagement respectively with the opposed. sets o't elements, and means for driving the assembly, the opposed elements being adapted to engage between them determined portions 01"- a blank which is fed etweerrthe expandingrolls and to move withsuch portions throughout the diverging movement so as to increase the mutual spacingfot correspondingengaged portions of the blank as they move away from the expanding rolls and thereby widen the blank.

.3.1111 apparatusfor' producing expanded metal'from a slitted blank, the combination of means for displacing from the plane of the blank a series of unit panels, eachconsisting of a series of rows of strands, and incident to such displacement stretching the strands in said panels, means for straightening the blank in cross section comprising lats erally spaced rows of elements in which the elements of each row are adapted to be .fed into engagement with successive portions of the blank adjacent the said panels during which movement the relative spacing of corresponding points in each row is progressively increased so as to increase in like manner the relativespacing of the engaged portions of the blank and thereby widen the latter and means for so moving the elements.

4t; In apparatus for producing expanded metal from a blank having longitudinal slitted zones connected by longitudinal unslitted zones, the combination of means for displacing from the plane of the blank a series of unit panels, each consisting of a series of rows of strands, and incident to such displacement stretching the strands in said panels, means for straightening the blank in cross section comprising laterally spaced rows of elements in which the elements of each row are adapted to be fed into engagement with successive portions of a longitudinal unslitted zone and to move a determined distance with the engaged portion, during which movement the relative spacing of corresponding points in each row of elements is progressively increased so as to increase in like manner the relative spacing of the engaged portions of the blank thereby widening the latter and means for so moving the elements.

In apparatus for producing expanded metal from a blank having longitudinal ribbed zones connected by longitudinal slitted zones, the combination of means for dis placing fromthe plane of the blank a series of unit panels, each consisting of a series of rows oi strands, and incident to such displacement stretching the strands in said panels, means for straightening the blank in cross section comprising laterally spaced rows of elements in which the elements of each row are adapted to be fed into engagement with successive portions of a longitudinal ribbed zone and to move a determined distance with the engaged portions during which movement the relative spacingof corresponding points in each row is progressively increased so as to increase in like manner the relative spacing of the engaged portions of theblank thereby widening the blank and means for so moving the elements. I

6. In apparatus for producing expanded 7 metal from a slitted blank, the combination of means for displacing from the plane of the blank a series of unit panels, each consisting of a serles of rows of strands and incident to such displacement stretching the strands in said panels, means for straighteningthe blank in cross section comprising opposed sets of blank engaging elements, each set being comtain their engagement with such portion,

their movement being in a direction such as to increase progressively to a determined extent the mutual spacing of the rows of both sets, whereby the mutual spacing of corresponding engaged portions of the blank is increased in like manner and thebl ank thereby widened and means for sov moving the elements. c

7. In apparatus for producing expanded metal from a slitted blank, the combination of means for displacing from the plane of the blank a series of unit panels, each consisting of a series of rows of strands, and incident to such displacement stretching the strands'in saidpanels, means for straightening the blank in cross section comprising a plurality of laterally spaced chain-like rows of elements in which the elements of each row are respec tively adapted for movement in a fixed circuitous path during a determined portion of which the mutual spacing between corresponding elements of the various rows in= creases, the corresponding elements being adapted to engage corresponding portions of the blank as they approach the point at which their mutual spacing begins to increase and to maintain their respective engagement with their respective portions while their spacing increases, whereby the mutual spacing of the corresponding engaged portions of the blank is increased in like manner and the blank mined portion of which the mutual spacing between the corresponding elements of the various rows increases, the corresponding elements being adapted to engage correspondingportions of the blank as they approach the point at which their mutual spacing beposed of at least two laterally spaced endless blank after it has been widened and means for driving the elements.

9. In apparatus for producing expanded metal from a slitted blank, the combination of means for displacing from the plane of theblank a series of unit panels, each consisting of a series of rows of strands, and incident to such displacement stretching the strands in said panels, means for straightening the blank in cross section comprising opposed sets of blank engaging elements, each set including a plurality of laterally spaced endless rows of elements in which each row is adapted for movement over a fixed path, a portion of which is in diverging relation with corresponding portions of the paths of the other rows in the same set, the elements of one set being in opposed relation with corresponding elements of the opposed set during the diverging movement, and means for driving the elements, the opposed elements being adapted to engage between them determined portions of the blank which is fed between the sets and to move with such portions throughout the diverging movement so as to increase the mutual spacing of corresponnding engaged portions of the blank and thereby widen the same; j

10. In apparatus for producing expanded metal from a slitted blank, the combination of means for displacing from the plane of the blank a series of unit panels, each consisting of a series of rows of strands and incident to such displacement stretching the strands in said panels, means for straightening the blank in cross section, comprising opposed sets of blank engaging elements, each set including a plurality of laterally spaced endless chain-likerows of elements in which each row is adapted for movement over a fixed path, a portion of which is in diverging relation with corresponding portions of the paths of the other rows in the same set, the elements of one set being in opposed relation with corresponding elements of the opposed set during the diverging movement, a pair of rolls respectively arranged in each set at the beginning and at the end of the diverging area, said rolls having driving engagement with the elements, and means for driving the rolls, the opposed elements being adapted to engage between them determined portions of the blank which is fed between the set and to move with such portions throughout the diverging movement so as to increase the mutual spacing of corresponding engaged portions of the blank and thereby widen the same.

11. In apparatus forproducingexpanded metal froma slitted blank,;the combination of means for displacing jfrom thedplane of the blank a series of unitlpanelaieachconsisting ofa series of rows of strands, and incident to such displacement stretching the strands in said panels, means for straighten ingtheblank in. cross section comprisingop} posed sets of guides, each setincluding aplu rality. of laterally spaced channel members arranged in diverging'relation, the members of one set being in opposed-relation to similar members of the opposed set, a series of sprockets arranged at the beginning and end of each set of channel members, each series being laterally spaced to correspond with the spacing of the adjacent end of the channel members, an endless row of chain-like elements for each channel member, each row extending through the channel of their respective member and having driving engagement with the sprocket at each end of such member, the elements in a channel member of one set being in opposed relation to the elements in the corresponding channel member of the opposed set, and means for driving each series of sprockets so as to move I the elements of each row successively into and through the channel of their. respective member and in a direction such that the spacing of corresponding points in the rows of each setis progressively increased as they move through the channels, the opposed elements being adapted to engage between them determined portions of the blank which is fed between the sets and to move with such portions throughout the diverging movement so as to increase the mutual spacing of corresponding engaged portions of the blank and thereby widen the same.

12. In apparatus for producing expanded metal from a slitted blank, the combination of means for displacing from the plane of the blank a series of unit panels, each consisting of a series of rows of strands, and incident tosuch displacement stretching the strands in said panels, means for straightening the blank in cross section comprising opposed sets of blank-engaging elements, each set including a plurality of laterally spaced endless" chain-like rows of elements in which each row is adapted for movement over a fixed path, a portion of whichis in diverging relation with corresponding portions of the paths of the other rows in the same set, the elements of one set being in opposed relation with corresponding elements of the opposedset during the diverging movement, a pair of rolls respectively arranged in each set at the beginning and at the end of the diverging area, said rolls having driving engagement with the elements, and means for driving the rolls, the opposed elements being adapted to engage between them determined portions of the blank which is fed between the sets and to move with such portions throughout the diverging movement so as to increase the mutual spacing of corresponding engaged portionsof the blank and theret by widen the same, and the rolls at the end of thewidening' area being adapted to engage and flatten portions of the blank extending between the portions engaged by the blanken -aging elements.

n testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

1 "HARRY A KESSLER. 

